Hathenbruck | Hot Damn

2/21/2014 |
Amy Tibbals Corigan Kushma & Kerri Fukui

Plenty of us down here in the ‘valley’ like to make the occasional short trek up the canyon to Park City for a little shop and stroll in the high mountain air. As most know, the shopping in P.C. ranges from fancy [think diamonds and fur] to, say, touristy [think cheesy t-shirt with drunken, cartoon moose in a bar brawl]. Happily, we think we’ve found the shop that has actually nailed the style of what much of Park City is all about. Just slightly off the beaten path of uber-popular Main St., you’ll find Hathenbruck. The perfect blend of Scandanavian minimalism and rustic American heritage. The shop interior speaks respectfully to its merchandise [think Project Sunday-crafted pieces paired with Eames chairs]. It's all very tasty.

Hathenbruck is the creation of two Park City locals: Caleb Flowers, a disarmingly charming and charismatic looker, and his stunningly adorable, trend-setting partner Brynne Parry [check out her fashion blog, Something of the Like, at the link below]. Caleb was drawn to the shop name even before the concept of the store was fully developed. While hiking in the Uintas, he was struck by how ‘honest and open’ the Hathenbruck Basin was. It inspired him, and the moniker draws on the history and lore of the area [F.W.C. Hathenbruck was an old gold miner who had ties to the famed Lost Rhoades Mine]. Caleb knew he wanted his retail shop to have a rustic vibe, without being too cliché. Hathenbruck wouldn’t corner him; it would allow the shop to evolve. He also mentioned that while the rustic thing has been happening all over in other cities, it actually applies here. It isn’t as contrived. Noted.

Hathenbruck opened in December of 2012, just before Sundance, as a small but fabulous men’s shop in a tiny space located right next to the Sundance box office. It was, as one might expect, a hit that first season, but they’ve seen even more local support since that time. In November of 2013, Caleb and Brynne moved into their current space on Heber Ave, a substantially-larger spot. Lucky ladies, 30% of the shop is now women’s lines and they project it will represent about 50% of the shop by next year. Everything they carry is top-notch. We're talking Filsen, Barbour, Won Hundred, Pendleton, Norse Projects, and Levi’s, to name a few. Add to that some stone-cold jewelry, legit eyewear, men’s skin care products, and a few photography books from big names like Jim Mangan and Justin Parkhurst [two more talented P.C. locals]. Solid line-up, especially when you toss in an incredible, handmade leather accessory line from Caleb himself. It's simple, kids...